Page 25 of Much Ado About Hockey

“Oh Joy…” Karen’s heart was breaking for the two of them, realizing so much in that statement. He’d grown up alone and found himself in hockey – which must mean the world to him – and also only had his mother to rely on. A woman who worked to provide what her son needed so he could someday become this man. No wonder Jett was protective and worried, he didn’t want his mother to be hurt from his lies. “Jett is such a good man. You’ve raised him well…”

She didn’t know what else to say – and hoped that was the right thing to tell her. It must have been because the woman laid her head on Karen’s shoulder and gave her a little squeeze of a hug before smiling at her.

“I’m so glad he has you,” Joy said softly, like she was imparting some grand secret. “I am so proud of my son, but I also see the boy inside of him… and I don’t want him to be alone again. He spent enough time alone while I was trying to scrape out a living for us.”

“Where do you work?”

“I don’t,” she chuckled. “I used to work as a waitress, but when Jett got his contract, he made me quit my job and enrolled me in an adult macrame class. Me? Macrame?”

“You don’t like macrame?”

“It’s not my thing, but I know why he did it.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll never forget the day,” Joy smiled proudly. “Jett came over for dinner, walked in carrying some takeout containers, and told me that he wanted me to have a chance to live my life now that I was done raising him.” She chuckled softly and met Karen’s eyes. “Foolish boy doesn’t realize that you never quit raising your children – not when they hold a big piece of your heart inside. You always protect them… and you’ll see someday.”

Karen swallowed simply to keep the immediate denial from her lips.

“I met my boyfriend taking one of these silly classes,” Joy winked, smirking and looking like Jett. “Roger teaches painting and will be here later. He’s Elton’s father and my best friend. We’ve been married for eight years now.”

“Oh?”

“Acton is my maiden name – which is why Jett has it. Elton has Roger’s name, and when I got pregnant, he insisted on marrying me. I thought it was menopause. Boy, were we both surprised.”

“Oh my gosh… I bet you were stunned.”

“I was horrified at first,” Joy laughed openly. “My Jett was grown and on his own. I’d been seeing Roger for six months – and boom.”

“That’s a heckuva ‘boom’.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Joy whispered and smiled, looking at the two guys who obviously had it out of their system now. They were no longer wrestling around on the floor, but both were sitting down, backs against the couch feet planted in front of them, knees bent, and holding game controllers, staring at the screen… only for Jett to look up briefly, smile at her, and wink.

Karen tensed – and Jett looked away as his mother whispered.

“Jett always surprises me,” Joy began. “When I told him about the pregnancy and Roger’s proposal, he smiled and said ‘You gave me my life – share this second part of your life with him but only if he makes you happy, Ma. You’ll get a chance to relive all those things you regretted but never said… just be happy.’”

“What?” Karen whispered, looking from Jett to Joy in surprise.

“I never once complained about our life, never said a thing of regret, but somehow he knew and just wanted me to be happy,” Joy whispered and hugged her again. “That’s the boy I raised – and the man you married. Just make him happy, and it’s enough for me.”

“I love you in pink, Nutella…”

Jett’s voice came out of nowhere and caused Karen to do a doubletake as Joy chuckled, hugging her again before walking into the kitchen to check on whatever was cooking in the oven. Karen looked at Jett, realizing he was talking to her, addressing her as ‘Nutella’ again.

“Pink is your color,” he said, ignoring E.J.’s groan of dismay and how the boy rolled his eyes mockingly, making faces. No, her new husband, this stranger, was watching her – waiting – and more unbelievably…admiringher.

“You’re sweet,” Karen said nervously, unsure what else to say without giving anyone the idea that they weren’t madly in love. “Play your video game with your brother.”

Jett turned in a quick, confrontational motion, putting his face almost directly in E.J.’s surprised one as the boy reared back. “You hear that? My wife just gave me permission to ‘school’ you, Twerp. Prepare to lose.” – and before Karen could comment, she saw his brother do the same.

E.J. shoved his face forward, nearly touching Jett’s nose, causing a proud smile to appear on her husband’s face at the wayE.J. mimicked him. “Don’t start none, won’t be none… and who are you calling ‘Twerp,’ Twerp. Are you trying to show off for your girl? I assure you, she already knows what a loser you are…”

“Whoa there…” Karen exclaimed, stunned as Jett laughed openly. “That was a little hostile, don’t you think?”

“Good job, Biggie-E,” Jett praised and high-fived the boy. “Just like that. Don’t show any fear when someone pushes your buttons, and speak up for yourself. Now, what’s the rule?”

“Speak up for myself, put on a show so they back down, and if I have to protect myself – make sure if I hit someone that they don’t get back up,” the boy parroted dutifully, and Karen didn’t know if she should be proud or horrified that he was teaching his younger brother these things.

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